PROTOCOL ADAPTER ARRANGEMENT WITH PIN SWITCHING FOR DoIP

Abstract

A protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle network and an external client in one or more of a plurality of protocols. The protocol adapter includes a plurality of pins connected to a pin array on a vehicle communications port, to allow the protocol adaptor to communication with a vehicle network. The protocol adapter includes both a plurality of CAN communication paths and an ethernet communication path providing DoIP communication through the vehicle communications port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle electronic control unit and an external client comprising:
 a protocol adapter having a at least one pin connected to a pin array on a vehicle communications port to allow the protocol adaptor to communication with a vehicle network in a plurality of protocols, wherein the protocol adapter includes both at least one control area network (CAN) communication path and at least one ethernet communication path, wherein the at least one ethernet communication path selectively provides diagnostics over internet protocol (DoIP) communication through the at least one pin to the vehicle communications port, wherein the at least one pin is connected to both the at least one CAN communication path and the at least one ethernet communication path;   a switching circuit that includes a plurality of optical-coupled MOSFET switches for isolating and switching the protocol adapter between the at least one CAN communication path and the at least one ethernet communication path over the at least one pin of the protocol adapter;   a wireless communications bus in the protocol adaptor that allows communication between the protocol adaptor and an external client.   
     
     
         2 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the pin array conforms to a J1962 connector. 
     
     
         3 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a memory device in electrical communication with the external client, such that said memory device is operable to receive data from a vehicle network operating in said vehicle network protocol during the initial boot up of said protocol adapter and said external client. 
     
     
         4 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pin of the protocol adapter is connected to a detection circuit for determining at least one mode of the DoIP communication being transmitted. 
     
     
         5 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pin of the protocol adapter is four pins that are for ethernet communication and the ethernet communication path has four wires with each one of the four wires connected to one of the four pins. 
     
     
         6 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one CAN communication path communicates using a plurality of control area network (CAN) protocols that include one selected from the group consisting of CAN, control area network flexible data rate (CAN FD), and Ethernet. 
     
     
         7 . The protocol adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of mode selection inputs that command the plurality of optical-coupled MOSFET switches to operate in one of a plurality of modes. 
     
     
         8 . The protocol adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of modes include one or more diagnostics over internet protocol (DoIP) modes on the at least one ethernet communication path and a CAN mode. 
     
     
         9 . A protocol adapter for providing communication between a vehicle electronic control unit and an external client comprising:
 a protocol adapter having a at least four pins at are part of an on board diagnostic (OBD2) interface that is connected to pin array on a vehicle communications port to allow the protocol adaptor to communication with a vehicle network in a plurality of protocols, wherein the protocol adapter includes both at least one control area network (CAN) communication path and an ethernet communication path that is a four wire ethernet connection, wherein the ethernet communication path selectively provides diagnostics over internet protocol (DoIP) communication through the OBD2 interface to the vehicle communications port, wherein the at least four pins are connected to both the at least one CAN communication path and the ethernet communication path;   a switching circuit that includes a plurality of optical-coupled MOSFET switches for isolating and switching the protocol adapter between the at least one CAN communication path and the ethernet communication path over the at least four pins of the OBD2 interface;   a wireless communications bus in the protocol adaptor that allows communication between the protocol adaptor and an external client.   
     
     
         10 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the pin array conforms to a J1962 connector. 
     
     
         11 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9 , further comprising a memory device in electrical communication with the external client, such that said memory device is operable to receive data from a vehicle network operating in said vehicle network protocol during the initial boot up of said protocol adapter and said external client. 
     
     
         12 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one pin of the protocol adapter is connected to a detection circuit for determining at least one mode the DoIP communication being transmitted. 
     
     
         13 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9 , wherein each one of the four wires of the ethernet communication path are connected to one of the at least four pins. 
     
     
         14 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one CAN communication path communicates using a plurality of control area network (CAN) protocols that include one selected from the group consisting of CAN, control area network flexible data rate (CAN FD), and Ethernet. 
     
     
         15 . The protocol adapter of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of mode selection inputs that command the plurality of optical-coupled MOSFET switches to operate in one of a plurality of modes. 
     
     
         16 . The protocol adapter of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of modes include one or more diagnostics over internet protocol (DoIP) modes on the ethernet communication path and a CAN mode.